Democrat Gash Is Set To Take On Kirk In 10th

March 23, 2000|By Susan Kuczka, Tribune Staff Writer.

State Rep. Lauren Beth Gash (D-Highland Park) highlighted her record Wednesday as she looked ahead to her race against Mark Kirk, the winner of the GOP nomination for the 10th Congressional District seat.

"I'm working on the issues that matter to the people in our area already," Gash said as she drove to Springfield, where she intended to introduce a truck-safety measure in the General Assembly.

Gash, a four-term state lawmaker, had no opposition in Tuesday's Democratic primary for the congressional seat being vacated by 21-year Republican Rep. John Porter of Wilmette.

She said she would focus her general election campaign on her record in the General Assembly, where she has gained a reputation as a bipartisan lawmaker who has taken a leading role in issues ranging from gun control to tollway reform.

"I like our chances going into the general election because people throughout our area are very aware of the work that I've done for several years," she said.

Kirk, a former Kenilworth resident, formerly worked as Porter's chief of staff and has worked in Washington the past 18 years as a congressional aide. His most recent job was counsel to the U.S. House International Relations Committee.

Kirk, who took a leave of absence from his Washington job last October so he could run for Porter's seat, said he looked forward to the contest with Gash.

"I think the primary really strengthened me because we aggressively raised all the key local issues that really make a difference in people's lives, like the cleanup of Waukegan Harbor, bringing radar to the Waukegan Regional Airport and saving the North Chicago VA Medical Center," he said.

Gash said she could attract Republican voters to her campaign as she has in the past.

"I have a lot of Republicans who've worked in my campaigns because they care about issues like gun control, and they see what I've done and they work with me," she said.

Kirk, who was endorsed in the GOP primary by Porter, won 31 percent of the vote in a 10-candidate field.

that included six millionaires who spent lavishly on the race.

Kirk, by comparison, spent sparsely but was able to capitalize on Porter's endorsement as well as the ground work of Republican election workers throughout the north suburban district.

After a day of fielding media questions about his victory, Kirk said he planned to spend Wednesday evening at a local commuter train station to thank voters for their support.

On Thursday, Kirk said he planned to hold a strategy meeting with his volunteer campaign staff.

Kirk, who never ran for office before, said voters could expect him to follow the same fiscally conservative but socially moderate brand of politics that helped Porter hold onto the 10th District seat for two decades.

On Friday, Kirk said he would have to turn his attention away from the coming race to go on his previously scheduled 21-day trip overseas. It's won't be a vacation, though. As a lieutenant commander in the Navy reserves, Kirk said his squadron would be flying over Iraq to provide "air cover" to protect the Kurds.